Dare
By Jade Castle, age 12

Mountain climbing is so not my idea of fun, I am petrified!! I cannot believe myself, I feel so stupid! I will tell you how it started off.

Well, my friends Em and Kez and myself were playing dare with Jen, who is like totally snobby. Everyone at school likes her! Why? That's another story don't worry. Jen dared me to go mountain climbing on the school trip next week. I acted all cool about it and said sure ok! Deep down inside me I knew I had said the wrong thing! You see I am a bit of a wuss really and I get really scared.

Well I have only just begun on the practice wall in a leisure centre hall and I am already scared stiff. Everyone is now crowding around me staring at me in disbelief. This cool person that they thought I was, now a shivering coward. Liam Harwood, the boy I had been trying to impress since Year 5 was standing at the bottom of the wall laughing. I was so embarrassed. I could feel myself blush. I could hear everyone saying 'Jade's a coward'. That makes me so much more confident. NOT!!

In front of me I could see only fear and air. Beneath my feet appeared Mr Smith who was mouthing words to me but I could not hear him. "I am coming to get you down" he shouted. Were these words supposed to make me feel better? He had better hurry because I was starting to slip.

Mr Smith succeeded in getting me down and making my life sort of a bit better. If I hurried maybe no one would notice me. WITH A BIT OF LUCK!

When the class got back I could see Jen laughing her head off. Maybe one day her head will pop off. I want nothing more than to get back at her! Oh great she's coming over (JOY). "You was rubbish at mountain climbing, I could have done that easily." Jen laughed. "Yeah well I did my dare" I said. Jen walked back off to the corridor, where her friends were standing. That's it I am so badly going to get back at the snobby little brat. First I need to meet up with Emily and Kez. I went down by the corridor where Jen and her crew of followers were standing. They all started starring at me, so I ignored them and went to find my two best friends.

Yesterday me, Em and Kez all agreed to get back at Jen, we were all walking to school together and gossiping about what we were going to do to Jen. "Jade what you should do is fill up some balloons with water and throw them at her" giggled Em. ""Shhh! Jen's only over there Em" I whispered. The baboon came over with her gang and began to sing Jade is a wussy. I have had just about enough. I leapt forward hitting hard at Jen with my fists, screaming at her. All of her friends grabbed me by my arm and pulled me off her.

No way was this going to stop me. I leapt back into action and started to pull her hair as hard as possible. Jen began to scream and cry which made me feel a lot better. Then I looked up and saw everyone giving me filthy looks and whispering. I realised that wasn't the brightest thing to do. "Maybe you should say sorry" Kez whispered. "No way, what if she's just faking it besides we all hate her remember!" I replied. Everyone walked off thinking I was a horrible bully and left me there. "Well it doesn't matter I don't even like all of those people, did you see Jen's face? She was crying! Yes! I got her back!"

I didn't even know if Em and Kez still liked me anymore because they were giving me these horrible funny looks. "What's the matter with you two?" I began.
"We thought you was a nice person, not one who bullies people" Kez snapped "But you were up to it as well so your not little Miss angel are you?" I replied with good come back.
Em shouted "We thought you was going to throw something at her not try to nearly pull her head off, we are not going to be your friends anymore goodbye". And with that they both left.

I was left once again with no one but a silly little bird on the tree. Well I don't need them any more.

It has been about 3 days and I am already regretting what I did to Jen. Everyone is calling me a bully, even Em and Kez. I feel so alone - what am I going to do? Right that' it. I can't stand it. I am going to apologise to Jen first. I had better tell Em and Kez and maybe they will be my friends again. I can see them stand with .....JEN. Oh God, maybe I should just blurt it out and hope for the best. Well here goes. "Hi I am really sorry I hope we could be friends again and I am really sorry for pulling your hair Jen. Can we be friends and ..."
"Jade slow down, of course we can be friends" they replied. "Yeah!" I screamed with joy. "What about you Jen?" I asked quietly.
"Sure I will. I am sorry to for that horrible dare I gave you" Jen replied which gave me a shock.

It has now been a couple of weeks and we are all the best of friends. It just goes to show being a bully is so not cool.